Shelby Luna

Shelby Luna, student services specialist at Western Technology Center, recently received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.

Luna was one of 15 people and seven businesses and nonprofit organizations honored at the 23rd annual Making It Work Day March 29 at the state Capitol. Making It Work Day recognizes individuals and organizations who are committed to removing barriers to success for single-parent families by providing educational experiences for students beyond the classroom. The ceremony also recognized nontraditional students.

Luna is responsible for activities related to job placement, professional development, college transitions and CareerTech student organizations at Western Tech, said Diana Patterson Smith, Western Tech Workforce 2000 coordinator, who nominated Luna for the award.

Luna organizes an annual workforce conference, works with Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and OSU-Oklahoma City representatives to provide opportunities to Western Tech students, provides resources for instructors, serves as an adviser for SkillsUSA and a sponsor for the National Technical Honor Society and helps organize efforts to provide students with food and other personal care needs, Patterson Smith said.

OkCTEEC is affiliated with the administrative division of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education. The council advocates for students pursuing nontraditional careers and for resources for educating single parents.

“The mission of OkCTEEC is to serve as a unifying council for all personnel serving displaced homemakers, single parents, teen parents, single pregnant women, nontraditional students and at-risk females. The Making It Work Day award ceremony is held to honor the tireless work of these amazing students, programs and community and business partners,” said Charlie Weeks, Work Prep and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

He serves as an adviser for OkCTEEC, along with Lisa French of the Department of Human Services and Gina McPherson of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

“Making It Work Day at the Capitol focuses on those people in our communities across this state who have gone above and beyond to improve their lives and the lives of others: students who have overcome great barriers to success, instructors who give extra support, administrators who prove what good leadership can do, businesses and community partners who offer a second or even third chance for others to get on their feet,” said Leslie Brown, OkCTEEC president and POWER program director at Western Oklahoma State College.

“That is what we recognize at Making It Work Day at the Capitol. It is their chance to shine and OkCTEEC’s chance to let our state leaders see the faces of those who are truly working hard in our state. Legislators throughout Oklahoma get to meet those who have made a difference in Oklahoma. We at OkCTEEC are honored to be able to have this day of recognition for those who are so deserving.”

OkCTEEC’s purposes include promoting and supporting career and technology education, increasing its effectiveness, promoting research in the field and in educational equity, developing leadership and advocating for equity and diversity.

For more information about OkCTEEC, visit www.cteec.org/. For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, visit www.okcareertech.org.